(82814)
Sapper 121st Field Coy., Royal Engineers Died 10th April 1916
Age 42 Commemorated GEZAINCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION,
SOMME, FRANCE Son of George and Sarah Adams, of “The Lodge”,
Hemnall Street. Born in Epping, he enlisted into the Royal Engineers
in London in March 1915 as a Shoeing Smith and was posted to
Ireland. He went to France on the 5th October the same year
and died of pneumonia there in April 1916. On the first anniversary
of his death his parents inserted the following notice in the
West Essex Gazette: “In affectionate remembrance of our dear
son Sapper V.E. Adams. RE, who died on active service April
9th 1916., and was interred in the cemetery, Gezaincourt, Somme,
France. Sadly missed.” Victor is commemorated on his father’s
grave in Epping Cemetery.

ALLEN

Herbert

(41859)
Private 8th Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Died 5th August
1917 Aged 19. Commemorated MENIN GATE, YPRES, BELGIUM Son of
Edward and Margaret Edith Allen, of Chapel Road. Born in Epping,
he enlisted into the Dorsetshire Regiment in Chiseldon, Wiltshire,
and later transferred to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He
was killed in action during the Third Battle of Ypres. There
is a memorial to him on the Allen family grave headstone in
Epping Cemetery. Known as Bert, he was a great friend of Gerald
Church, who was also killed in August 1917.

AUSTIN

George

(7607)
Lance Corporal 9th Bn., York & Lancaster Regiment Died 8th June
1917 Commemorated LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY, POPERINGE,
BELGIUM Born in Epping, the son of Mr & Mrs G Austin of Ivy
Chimneys. He joined the Army as a regular soldier in 1904, and
went to France with the 2nd Battalion, Yorks & Lancs on 21st
September 1914. The following March he was seriously wounded
in the thigh, entering hospital on the 3rd. He recovered from
his wounds and transferred to the 9th Battalion. He was wounded
again in June 1917, and died in a casualty clearing station
on the 8th. His brother, Lance Corporal A. Austin, was wounded
at Ypres in 1915. He never fully recovered and died in 1920.
George’s brother-in-law was Harry Gulliford, who was also killed
near Ypres.

AWBERY

Charles
L.

Captain
4th Bn., Essex Regt, attached. 1st/1st Bn., Cambridgeshire Regt
Died 31st July 1917 Age 38 Commemorated MENIN GATE, YPRES, BELGIUM
Born in Tooting Common, Charles Luker Awbery was a Chartered
Accountant in civilian life. He took an interest in soldiering,
and served in the Boer War with the London Scottish Regiment.
He remained with them for a number of years, and qualified as
an instructor at the Army School of Musketry. In 1911 he moved
to Epping and took a commission in the Essex Regiment. He was
attached to ‘G’ Company of the 4th Battalion, which was based
in Ongar with a detachment in Epping. On October 11th 1914 he
was promoted to temporary Captain. He landed in Gallipoli with
his Battalion on 21st July 1915, and remained there until the
Allied evacuation five months later. His rank of Captain was
made permanent in December. He spent some time on sick leave
and when fit again he was attached to the Cambridgeshire Regiment
and sent to France. In the autumn of 1916 he was awarded the
Military Cross for gallantry in action. The following citation
was published in the London Gazette on 12th October 1917:“Charles
Luker Awbery, Capt. Essex R. attached Cambridge R. For conspicuous
gallantry in action. He led his company direct to the final
objective and got into touch with the battalions on the right
and the left, sending his report to Battalion HQ. He carried
out a difficult operation with great courage and skill.” Captain
Awbery was reported missing in August 1917, but it was later
discovered that he had in fact been killed in action at St Julien,
near Ypres, on 31st July. The West Essex Gazette said at the
time “His honourable sportsmanlike conduct made him many friends
in Epping, by whom he will be sadly missed”. A special Mass
was said for him at Coopersale House on Sunday 9th September
1917.

BARKER

Horace
W.

Deck
Boy SS Windsor Hall (London), Mercantile Marine Died 17th January
1918 Age 15 Commemorated TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, LONDON Son of
Alfred and Emily Ellen Barker, of St John’s Road. His father
worked at Cottis’ foundry. Horace enlisted in the Mercantile
Marine and became an Apprentice Deck Boy on the SS Windsor Hall,
a defensively armed merchantman of 3,693 tons. On 17th January
1918 the Windsor Hall was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean
Sea, 45 miles north-west of Alexandria. The ship’s Captain was
taken prisoner, but Horace Barker was one of 27 crew members
who lost their lives. He was presumed to have been drowned.
At just 15 years of age he was the youngest of Epping’s war
dead.

BARNES

John
F.

(200552)
Private 4th Battalion Essex Regiment Died 19th April 1917 Commemorated
GAZA MILITARY CEMETERY, ISRAEL The son of Mr J Barnes of Lindsey
Street, Epping, he was a member of the 1st Epping Scout Group
before enlisting into the Essex Regiment at Brentwood. He served
with the 4th Battalion in the Middle East where he lost his
life in April 1917. He is commemorated on the memorial tablet
in the United Reform Church in Lindsey Street.

BAYLIS

Albert

(419158)
Private 42nd Bn., Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment) Died 25th
May 1916 Age 24 Commemorated MENIN ROAD SOUTH, BELGIUM Son of
Charles and Ellen Baylis of Epping, he was killed in action
at Hooge in the Flanders region of Belgium in May 1916.

BETTS

Alfred

(2782SD)
Deck Hand HM Trawler “Speeton”, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve
Died 31st December 1915 Age 17 Commemorated CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL,
KENT Son of Mr and Mrs R Betts, of 3 Allnuts Estate, Epping,
Alfred Betts lost his life when HM Trawler Speeton, the vessel
on which he was serving, struck a mine off Lowestoft and sank
on New Year’s Eve 1915. Speeton was a Hull-registered fishing
trawler (number H1011). The fishing community gave great assistance
to the Royal Navy throughout the war.

BINDER

Fred.
W.

(200397)
Serjeant 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 30th April 1918 Commemorated
RAMLEH WAR CEMETERY, ISRAEL Born in Walthamstow, he later became
a resident of Epping. He enlisted at into the Essex Regiment
at Brentwood and landed with them in Gallipoli on 12th August
1915. He continued to serve in the Middle East after the British
withdrawal from the Dardenelles, and was killed in action on
30th April 1918.

CABLE

Alfred
J.

(118906)
Gunner 354th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery Died 11th
August 1918 Commemorated HEATH CEMETERY, HARBONNIERES, FRANCE
Born in Epping. He enlisted in Stratford, initially into the
Essex & Suffolk Royal Garrison Artillery, and later transferred
to the 354th Siege Battery. He was killed in action on the Western
Front in August 1918.

CHATER

Walter
J.

(SS/111526)
Stoker 1st Class HMS Queen Mary, Royal Navy Died 31st May 1916
Age 24 (CW) Commemorated PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, SOUTHSEA
COMMON, HAMPSHIRE Born on the 31st March 1893 at Romford, he
was the only son of Sarah Lunniss (formerly Chater), of High
Street, Epping. He took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight
and was killed in action when the Queen Mary was sunk at the
Battle of Jutland. The ship had exchanged fire with the German
battle cruisers Derfflinger and Seydlitz. At 4.26pm a direct
hit on the Queen Mary caused a huge explosion. In just ninety
seconds the ship sank, leaving only 21 survivors. Walter Chater
was one of the 1,266 men who lost their lives. It has since
been suggested that the there was too much cordite stored in
and around the gun turrets, and that safety rules were ignored
in an effort to speed up the supply to the guns. Four of the
British fleet’s capital ships were lost at Jutland, prompting
the famous comment made at the height of the battle by Admiral
Jellicoe - “There seems to be something wrong with our bloody
ships today”. Walter Chater had previously been employed at
the Co-Operative Society in Epping, and was a member of the
Temple of Peace Lodge of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows Society.
On the first anniversary of the Battle Sarah Lunniss inserted
the following notice in the West Essex Gazette: “In loving memory
of our dear son Walter Lunniss, Stoker, HMS Queen Mary, who
died in Jutland battle, May 31st 1916, aged 24. Gone dear one,
but not forgotten”.

CHEW

Percy
J.

(13107)
Corporal 1st Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment Died 9th November 1917
Age 26 Commemorated BUTTES NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, POLYGON WOOD,
BELGIUM The son of William H and Julia M Chew, of High Street,
Epping, he was born in the town and enlisted at Stratford. He
went to France with his Regiment on the 6th July 1915. The following
month he was slightly wounded in the left shoulder. He recovered
from his wound and returned to the Western Front, serving in
the Ypres Salient. On 9th November 1917 he located a German
machine gun and reported its position to his Commanding Officer.
An attempt was made to capture the gun, during which Percy Chew
was shot and killed. He had been a member of Epping Football
Club, and the following report was written by “the Old ‘un”,
a football reporter for the West Essex Gazette: “The sadly depleted
ranks of Epping Football Club have just sustained another blow
in the lamented loss of one if its younger and more useful members.
In Percy Chew, otherwise ‘Young Cota’, we older members saw
a hope for the future so far as football was concerned, and
to know that never again will his keenness be displayed in the
white shirt brigade on the Bell Field is saddening. The condolence
of every supporter of the EFC will go to the worthy Hon Sec
of the Club and his family in their sad loss”. Captain A. Ball,
his Commanding Officer in the Lincolnshire Regiment, wrote to
Percy’s parents: “I must say how we all feel the loss of your
brave son. I knew him well, and never met a braver soldier.
He was well-respected by all ranks, and was always a volunteer
for any dangerous work. Your son was one of my best NCOs and
I will have some trouble to replace him. It may be some consolation
to know that he always did his duty, and bravely too”. Members
of the Epping & District Branch of the Royal British Legion
commemorated Corporal Chew with a parade at the Buttes New British
Cemetery in June 2000.

CHURCH

Gerald
W. R.

(52817)
Private X Coy., 19th Bn., Durham Light Infantry Died 28th August
1917 Age 19 Commemorated VILLERS-FAUCON COMMUNAL CEMETERY, SOMME,
FRANCE Son of Stephen and Alice Church, founders of the pork
butchers in Epping, who lived at the Homestead, in the High
Street. Gerald wanted to become a farmer, and took an apprenticeship
at a farm belonging to Maurice Pegrum in North Weald. In May
1916 he enlisted into the Army Cyclist Corps. Later that year
he was transferred into the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) and
went to France in December. While there he met up with his brother
James, who was serving with the Essex Yeomanry. Two more brothers
were also in HM Forces at the time; Stephen, a Trooper in the
Dragoon Guards, and Leslie, with the Royal Flying Corps. On
28th August 1917 Gerald was a member of a working party entering
a trench during the Battle of the Somme when a German shell
killed him and five other members of his unit. In a letter to
Alice Church, Lance-Corporal J. Whitlock, a comrade of Gerald’s
from the DLI, said “He was in our gun team and we thought a
lot about him. It is hard to realise that he is gone, for he
was such a good man on the team. He was killed instantly and
had no suffering. I visited his grave in a French cemetery a
good way behind the line. The gun team and all the platoon send
their deepest sympathy”. Gerald had been a great friend of Herbert
(Bert) Allen, who had been killed only three weeks previously.
Bert’s brother Eddie, an Air Mechanic in the RFC, also wrote
to Gerald’s mother: I was very sorry to hear of the death in
action of Gerald. He was like a second brother to Bert and myself.
We both started school on the same day, and were the best of
pals ever since. While we had him we never wanted other pals.
In all the time I knew him he never did anything one would be
ashamed of. I am sure you must feel proud of him, for he died
the noblest of all deaths. The West Essex Gazette described
him as “a bright, cheerful lad who was greatly liked in the
district.” The original cross from his grave in France now forms
part of a memorial to Gerald outside the United Reform Church
in Lindsey Street. A wreath was laid at his grave in Villers-Faucon,
France by the Epping & District Branch of the Royal British
Legion in June 2003.

CLARK

James
A.

(3/1405)
Corporal 11th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 15th October 1916 Age
22 (CW) Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Born in
Forest Gate, his parents, Mr & Mrs T J Clark, later moved to
the Duke of York public house in Epping (now the site of Barclays
Bank). He enlisted in Stratford and went to France with the
2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment in November 1914. He was invalided
home with frostbite and subsequently went to Egypt. He returned
to France with the 11th Battalion and was involved in some of
the heaviest fighting. He was killed in action on 15th October
1916.

COOTE

Joseph

(285103)
Private 6th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders Died 12th-16th May 1917
Commemorated ARRAS MEMORIAL, FRANCE Born in Portsmouth, he was
residing in Hemnall Street at the outbreak of war. He enlisted
in Epping, joining the Middlesex Regiment. He later transferred
to the Seaforth Highlanders and was killed in action on the
Western Front some time between the 12th and 16th May 1917.

CORDELL

Arthur
C.

Driver
53 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Died 29th April 1918 Age 25
Commemorated BRANDHOEK NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, BELGIUM Born in
Epping, the son of Mr & Mrs A Cordell. Enlisted in London. He
was killed in action on the Western Front.

COX

Frank

(40071)
Corporal 8th Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment Died 25th September
1916 Age 19 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Son
of George and Sarah Cox, of 8 Granville Terrace, Lindsey Street,
Epping. He enlisted into the Essex Regiment at Brentwood in
October 1914. He later transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment
and was reported missing during the Battle of the Somme in September
1916. In August 1917 his parents were informed that he was now
presumed to have been killed on 25th September. He is commemorated
on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, which contains the
names of 73,000 men who fought on the Somme and whose bodies
were never found.

CRABB

George

(173)
Serjeant 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 27th November 1915
Age 29 Commemorated EPPING CEMETERY George Crabb was born on
18th February 1886 at Hastingwood Common, the son of William
and Dorothy Crabb. The family later moved to Hemnall Street
in Epping. After leaving school he worked for W Cottis in their
iron foundry, and stayed with them for fifteen years. By the
time war broke out he had already served for 13 years in the
local Volunteer and Territorial battalions of the Essex Regiment,
rising to the rank of Serjeant. He was a member of the Epping
Town Band, the Epping Ramblers Football Club and the Epping
Volunteer Fire Brigade. When war was declared in August 1914
he took his place in the 4th Battalion of the Essex Regiment
and was sent for training in Suffolk. While stationed there
he married Ada Angell Butcher of Lindsey Street at the Epping
Congregational Church on the 23rd May 1915. His best man was
his brother William who was also serving with the 4th Battalion.
William also lost his life in the war. The newly weds received
a silver teapot from George’s comrades with the inscription
“ Presented to 173 Sgt G Crabb by NCOs and men of ‘D’ Coy.,
1/4th Essex Regiment”. Within weeks of being married George
Crabb was posted overseas and landed on the Gallipoli peninsular
at Suvla Bay on 12th August. After 8 weeks there he was taken
ill with Enteric Fever and Dysentery and taken to the military
hospital in Alexandria. His condition worsened and he was sent
home on the Hospital Ship “Neuralia”. His health continued to
deteriorate and he died just as the ship was docking at Southampton.
As he died in this country, his widow was allowed to claim his
body. His funeral, conducted by the Rev. J H Locke, was held
at the Congregational Church, and he was buried in Epping Cemetery
.The funeral procession was led by a body of the Home Battalion
of the Essex Regiment led by Sergeant-Major Kent, who had served
alongside George at Gallipoli. The Epping Fire Brigade brought
up the rear. His coffin was borne to its resting place by four
of his old workmates from the Foundry. Buglers from the 4th
Essex played the Last Post. At the time wife Ada was living
in Brewery Cottage, Lindsey Street. She later moved to Tower
Road and lived there until her death in 1975. George Crabb was
commemorated during a service at the cemetery held by the Epping
& District Branch of the Royal British Legion in November 2004.

CRABB

William
R.

(200146)
Private 4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 26th March 1917 Age 23
Commemorated JERUSALEM MEMORIAL, ISRAEL Brother of George, William
Crabb was born in North Weald and later moved to Epping, where
he enlisted into the Essex Regiment. In May 1915 he was best
man at George’s wedding. On 12th August the same year he landed
at Suvla Bay during the Gallipoli campaign. He continued to
serve with the 4th Battalion in Palestine and was wounded twice.
In March 1917 he was again reported to have been wounded. Four
months later his next of kin, brother Walter Crabb, of Beaulah
Cottages, Lindsey Street, was informed that William had actually
been killed on 26th March.

CRACKNELL

Ernest

(7083)
Private 3rd Bn., Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
Died 28th May 1915 The son of Mrs Goody from Epping, Ernest
Cracknell was born in Saxmundham, Suffolk. He was living in
Epping when war broke out in 1914, and enlisted into the Army
at Stratford. He went to France with the Middlesex Regiment
on 12th May 1915. He had been on the front line for just two
weeks when Mrs Goody received a letter informing her that her
son had been killed in action. The letter came from a comrade,
Lance-Corporal Bouvier. Two years after his death his family
inserted a notice in the West Essex Gazette: “Two years have
passed, but we still miss him. Some may think the wound has
healed, but they little know how deep the sorrow lies within
our hearts concealed”. He is commemorated on the grave of his
two young children in Epping Cemetery.

CRYER

Eric

(48747)
Lance Corporal 17th Bn., Royal Fusiliers Died 15th November
1918 Commemorated WIMBORNE MINSTER CEMETERY, DORSET Lived in
Forest Side, Epping. He died of wounds whilst a patient at Wimborne
Hospital in Dorset. He is commemorated on the memorial in the
grounds of All Saints Church at Epping Upland.

DAVIS

Edward

(12381)
Private 5th Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Died 10th October
1918 Age 24 Commemorated BEAUMONT CHURCHYARD, NORD, FRANCE Born
in Epping, the son of Mrs Lavinia Davis, of Bisley Villa, 44
St John’s Road, Epping. Enlisted at Stratford, initially serving
in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. He later transferred
to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

DAVIS

John
N.

(394733)
Rifleman 9th Bn., London Regt, attached. 1st/15th Bn., London
Regt. Died 1st September 1918 Age 19 Commemorated PERONNE COMMUNAL
CEMETERY EXTENSION, SOMME, FRANCE Son of Alfred B Davis (the
proprietor of the West Essex Gazette) and Ethel Davis, of 1
Bower Hill, John North Davis was born in Epping on 20th April
1899. He was educated at Loughton School and on leaving became
a clerk at Lloyds. He enlisted on 1st May 1917 into the 9th
Battalion (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) of the London Regiment.
He later transferred to the 1st/15th and served in the 4th Army
under General H Rawlinson during the British advance of 1918.
The advance led through Albert to Bouchavsenes and Moslains,
where he was killed in action.. A comrade wrote to his parents
“…he was one of the coolest fellows I have ever met”.

DAY

Harry

(26613)
Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment Died 12th October 1916 Age 27
Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Son of John and
Eliza Day; husband of Alice Matilda Day of 1 Hemnall Street,
he enlisted into the Essex Regiment in Epping. He was reported
missing in October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. In September
1917 the Army Council informed his family that he was now presumed
to be dead.

DAY

Henry
J.

(103367)
Private 10th Bn., Sherwood Foresters ( Notts & Derby Regiment)
Died 23rd September 1918 Age 19 (CW) Commemorated THILLOY ROAD
CEMETERY, BEAULENCOURT, FRANCE Born in Theydon Bois, Henry Day
was living in Epping when war broke out. He enlisted at Romford
and served on the Western Front, where he died of wounds in
1918.

DOE

George

(G/2590)
Private 8th Bn., The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) Died
25th September 1915 Age 23 Commemorated LOOS MEMORIAL , PAS
DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Epping, the son of Henry and Ellen
Doe, of 2 Chapel Row, High Street. He enlisted in Stratford
and went to France on 31st August 1915. Less than one month
later he was killed in action in the Battle of Loos.

ELLIOTT

Wallace

(39899)
Private “C” Coy., 1st Bn., Wiltshire Regiment Died 24th October
1918 Age 35 Commemorated GLASGOW WESTERN NECROPOLIS, GLASGOW,
SCOTLAND Son of Thomas and Emma Elliott, of North Weald. A resident
of Epping, he was attached to the Regimental Depot in England
at the time of his death in October 1918.

FENNER

Richard

(1901)
Lance Corporal 2nd/1st (London) Field Coy., Royal Engineers
Died 3rd July 1916 Commemorated DOULLENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
No. 1, SOMME, FRANCE Richard Fenner was born in London and enlisted
at Victoria Park. He died of wounds received in action on the
third day of the Battle of the Somme.

FENNER

William
H.

(96771)
Sapper 87th Field Coy., Royal Engineers Died 12th March 1918
Commemorated CROIX-DU-BAC BRITISH CEMETERY, STEENWERCK, NORD,
FRANCE Born in Coopersale, he enlisted at Stratford. Killed
in action on the Western Front. See also Liverpool
Street Station, London

FISH

Benjamin

(54858)
Private 16th Bn., Welsh Regiment Died 27th August 1917 Age 37
Commemorated TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM Born in Sawbridgeworth,
he was married to Gertrude Fish and lived at 1 Causeway Cottages,
High Road, Epping. He enlisted in Epping and was killed in action
during the Third Battle of Ypres.

FLEMING

Herbert

(40180)
Private 2nd Bn., Essex Regiment Died 18th October 1916 Commemorated
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Herbert Fleming was born in
Epping and was living in Coopersale when he enlisted. His Battalion
was serving in the front line near Transloy in France when it
was accidentally shelled by Allied heavy batteries on October
18th 1916. Herbert Fleming was one of 25 casualties. Also commemorated
on the war memorial at St Albans Church in Coopersale.

FOWLER

Edward

(8564)
Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment Died 6th August 1915 Commemorated
TWELVE TREE COPSE CEMETERY, TURKEY Born in North Weald, he enlisted
into the Essex Regiment at Warley. He landed in Gallipoli on
25th April 1915. On 6th August of that year Edward Fowler was
one of the 142 men of the Essex Regiment who lost their lives,
he was killed in action at the Battle of Krithia Vineyard, and
they are commemorated on a special memorial in Twelve Tree Copse
Cemetery in Turkey.

FRESHWATER

Jesse

(7476)
Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment Died 6th August 1915 Commemorated
TWELVE TREE COPSE CEMETERY, TURKEY Brother of Percy, he was
born in Coopersale and lived at Stewards Green. He enlisted
into the Essex Regiment at Stratford. He was reported missing
after the Suvla Bay landings at Gallipoli in August 1915. Nothing
further was heard of him until February 1917, when the West
Essex Gazette reported that news had been received that he had
been killed at Suvla. A week later the same newspaper reported
that his wife had not received any definite news. The Army Council,
having no information on his whereabouts, has concluded that
he was dead. His wife had been told by one of his comrades that
a number of men from his Regiment were in the hands of the Turks,
and that there was a possibility that he was among them. The
Gazette report concluded “It is to be hoped that after the war
Private Freshwater will return safe and well to his wife and
four children”. Unfortunately it was later discovered that he
had in fact been killed in action at the Battle of Krithia Vineyard
on 6th August 1915.

FRESHWATER

Percy

(32900)
Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment Died 1st December 1917 Age 19
Commemorated CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, FRANCE Born in Epping, the son
of Mr and Mrs J Freshwater of Stewards Green. He was living
in the Town at the time of his enlistment into the Essex Regiment.
He was killed in action on the Western front in December 1917.
He was the brother of Jesse, who had been killed two years earlier.

FROST

Arthur
C.

Second
Lieutenant 11th Bn., Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Died
25th September 1915 Age 18 Commemorated LOOS MEMORIAL, PAS DE
CALAIS, FRANCE Arthur Frost was the second son of James and
Ellen Frost of St Margarets, Station Road, Epping. He was educated
at Sherborne School. At the outbreak of war he volunteered to
join the Army and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in
the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. On the 9th July 1915
he sailed for France. On 25th September the same year, the first
day of the Battle of Loos, he was shot and killed by a sniper.
His brother James also lost his life in the Great War. In 1919
the family moved to Hayes in Kent, and the two brothers are
also commemorated on the war memorial there.

FROST

James
J.

Lieutenant
11th Bn., Northumberland Fusiliers Died 7th July 1916 Age 21
Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Like his brother
Arthur, James Frost was educated at Sherborne School. He volunteered
for the Army and was commissioned into the Northumberland Fusiliers
as a Second Lieutenant on 19th September 1914. He served in
France and was promoted to Lieutenant. He was in charge of a
Machine Gun Section but was actually leading a rifle company
“over the top” at Contalmaison when he was killed during the
Battle of The Somme. His mother received an official telegram
telling her of his death on 12th July 1916.

FURLONG

Edward

(R/5023)
Rifleman 4th Bn., King’s Royal Rifle Corps Died 1st December
1915 Age 37 Commemorated MIKRA BRITISH CEMETERY, KALAMARIA,
GREECE Born in Epping, the husband of Gertrude Esther Furlong
of Fiddlers Hamlet. He enlisted into the Army in Stratford.
He was killed in action in Salonika in December 1915.

GARDENER

Stanley

(32399)
Private 11th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 22nd April 1917 Age 22
Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Braintree
but later became a resident of Epping. His father was a well-known
local policeman living in Lindsey Street. Stanley enlisted into
the Essex Regiment in Epping and was killed in action on the
Western Front in 1917.

GOODEY

Peter
J.

(29347)
Private 1st/8th Bn., Royal Warwickshire Regiment Died 27th September
1917 Age 19 Commemorated WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY, PAS DE
CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Stondon Massey. Son of Francis and Emily
Goodey of Magdelen Laver, he enlisted in Epping and initially
joined the Suffolk Regiment. He was transferred to the Royal
Warwickshire Regiment and died of wounds in September 1917.

GOSLING

William

(G/72796)
Private 1st/24th Bn., The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
Died 30th August 1918 Commemorated VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL, PAS
DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Stanford Rivers and at the outbreak
of war lived in Ivy Chimneys. He enlisted in Epping, joining
the Sherwood Foresters before transferring to the Royal West
Surrey Regiment. Killed in action in France.

GOULD

Albert
E.

(28147)
Private 11th Bn., East Yorkshire Regiment Died 3rd May 1917
Age 23 Commemorated ORCHARD DUMP CEMETERY, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE
Born in Epping, the son of Josiah and Louisa E Gould, of Ivy
Chimneys. He enlisted into the Lincolnshire Regiment at Stratford
and later transferred to the East Yorkshire Regiment. He was
killed in action on 3rd May 1917. By a tragic coincidence, his
brother Joseph was killed on the same day. Also commemorated
on Theydon Bois war memorial.

GOULD

Joseph

(R/31756)
Rifleman 8th Bn., King’s Royal Rifle Corps Died 3rd May 1917
Age 33 Commemorated ARRAS MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Like
his brother Albert he was born in Epping. He was married to
Bertha, and lived at 3 Smith’s Villas, Ivy Chimneys. He enlisted
at Woolwich and was killed in action on the same day as Albert.
Also commemorated on Theydon Bois war memorial.

GREEN

Herbert
T.

(200602)
Lance Serjeant 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 3rd November
1917 Age 22 Commemorated GAZA WAR CEMETERY, ISRAEL Known as
Tom, he was born in Epping, the son of Frederick William and
Eliza Green of Hemnall Cottages, Hemnall Street. He worked for
J Whiffin & Sons as second clerk for six years and was a member
of the Epping Rifle Club before joining the Essex Regiment at
Brentwood on 2nd November 1914. He was wounded on 26th March
1916 and spent ten days in hospital with heart trouble. He returned
to his Regiment and volunteered to go to Egypt in June 1916.
He was killed in action in Palestine on 3rd November 1917. He
regularly sent letters from the front to the West Essex Gazette.
A poem who had written shortly before his death appeared in
the paper in December 1919.

GREEN

L.aurence
T.

(1371)
Private 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 15th November 1915
Commemorated 7TH FIELD AMBULANCE CEMETERY, TURKEY Laurence Green
was born in Loughton but was living in Epping High Street when
war broke out. He was formerly a Telegraph Boy and later a postman
at Epping Post Office. He was also a member of the 1st Epping
Scout Troop. He transferred to Ilford Post Office before enlisting
into the Essex Regiment in Epping. He was one of several men
from the Town who landed in Gallipoli on 12th August 1915. He
died of wounds in November the same year.

GULLIFORD

Harry

(29217)
Private 16th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) Died
23rd April 1915 Commemorated MENIN GATE, YPRES, BELGIUM Originally
from Wells in Somerset, Harry Gulliford was living with his
wife and children in Canada when war was declared. His wife
came from Epping. He brought his family to stay at his wife’s
parents in Epping and enlisted into the Canadian Infantry. He
was killed in action on 23rd April 1915 in what became known
as the Battle of Kitchener’s Wood.. This action took place at
St. Julien, three miles north-east of Ypres. The Germans had
used gas which caused panic amongst French Colonial troops.
They fled from their trenches and the Canadians had to try and
plug the gap. Of a total of 600 men involved, the 16th Battalion
lost 12 officers and 265 other ranks. Brother-in-law of George
Austin, who also lost his life in the War.

HALL

Alfred
C.

(G/43062)
Private 4th Bn., Middlesex Regiment Died 18th November 1916
Age 19 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE The son
of Joseph John and Emily Speller, of Lindsey Street, Alfred
was born in London but by the outbreak of war had moved to Allnuts
Road in Epping. He became the selling agent in the Town for
the London Evening News. He enlisted into the Essex Regiment
but later transferred to the Middlesex. On the day he lost his
life the 4th Middlesex assisted the Somerset Light Infantry
in taking and holding Puisieux Trench. during the last hours
of the Battle of The Somme.

HAMMOND

Alfred
S.

(2053)
Private 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 21st January 1917 Age
30 Commemorated CAIRO WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, EGYPT Born in Epping,
the fourth son of Louisa Hammond, of Wellington Place. Alfred
was an active member of the Epping Wesleyan Church. He was a
member of the Essex Volunteers for many years and worked for
J Hill & Sons in Epping. He enlisted into the Army at Brentwood
at the beginning of the war and served in the Gallipoli campaign..
He died of peritonitis in Egypt in 1917.

HANCOCK

George

(TF/203568)Private
16th Bn., Middlesex Regiment Died 4th October 1917 Commemorated
TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM Born in Epping but living
in Harlesden, Middlesex when war broke out. He enlisted into
the Middlesex Regiment at Mill Hill.

HARRIS

J

(SD/5339)
Private 7th Bn., Royal Sussex Regiment Died 14th November 1916
Commemorated AGNY MILITARY CEMETERY, PAS-DE-CALAIS, FRANCE Born
in Epping, and enlisted at Petworth, Sussex. He was a member
of a Lewis gun section of the 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment,
and was in charge of his gun when he was killed by a shell in
France in November 1916. He was the brother of Epping Council
chairman E Harris, JP. The West Essex Gazette described him
as “well-known and highly esteemed in Epping”.

HARRIS

Sydney
Ernest

Lieutenant
9th Squadron, Royal Air Force Died 4th July 1918 Age 21 Commemorated
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY, SOMME, FRANCE Lived at
Lower House, High Street, Epping. He was the son of Ernest and
Annie Jane Harris. On the outbreak of war he enlisted into the
5th London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade). He was promoted
to Lance-Corporal in October 1915 and later commissioned into
the Royal Air Force. He was killed at Hamel, France in July
1918. He is commemorated on the headstone of his mother’s grave
in Epping Cemetery.

HASLER

Donald
F.

(M2/051536)Private
257th Coy., Army Service Corps Died 22nd September 1916 Age
19 Commemorated PUCHEVILLIERS BRITISH CEMETERY, SOMME, FRANCE
Born in Epping, the son of Frank and Alice Hasler, of The Cottage,
Theydon Place. His father was a coachman. Frank worked for W
Cottis before enlisting into the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport)
at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in September 1914. He went to France
the following February. He was admitted to hospital with severe
back wounds on 21st September 1916. Despite an operation he
never recovered from his wounds and died the next day. He became
the sixth employee of W Cottis to be killed in the war.

HILLS

Harold

(269803)
Private 2nd/5th Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Died 21st March 1918 Age 35 Commemorated ARRAS MEMORIAL, PAS
DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Epping, the son of Joseph Hills, manager
of Wm Cottis cycle and repair shop in the High Street. Harold
enlisted into the Army in Epping. He was wounded while serving
with the Sherwood Foresters in 1917, and around the same time
his brother Percy was gassed while serving with the Essex Regiment.
Harold recovered from his wounds and rejoined his Regiment.
He was killed in action on the first day of the German spring
offensive in March 1918.

HOLLAND

Charles

(31457)
Lance Corporal 9th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 29th June 1918 Age
34 Commemorated HARPONVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, FRANCE
Son of William Holland, of Newport, Essex, he was married to
Clara and lived in Ivy Chimneys. He enlisted into the Essex
Regiment at Warley, and was killed in action on the Western
Front. He is also commemorated on Theydon Bois war memorial.

HOLLAND

Ernest
F.

(G/24795)
Private 1st Bn., Buffs (East Kent Regiment) Died 21st March
1918 Commemorated ARRAS MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born
in Epping. Lived in the Town and enlisted there. Like Harold
Hills, he was killed in action on the first day of the German
Spring Offensive in 1918. Also commemorated on Theydon Bois
war memorial.

HOWE

Archibald
J.

(1517)
Private, "B" Company, 1st Bn., Lancashire Fusiliers
Died 25th April 1915 Age 24 Commemorated HELLES MEMORIAL, TURKEY
Son of John Howe and Emma Hummerston (formerly Howe), of Briar
Cottage, High Road, Epping. He was born in Stratford and enlisted
there in 1907. He served in India and returned with his Regiment
in February 1915. He paid a brief visit home before embarking
for Gallipoli. He was killed in action on 25th April in the
vicinity of "W" Beach, Helles sector. A memorial service
was held for him at Theydon Bois Parish Church by the Reverend
G V Collier. He is commemorated on his father’s grave in Epping
Cemetery, and also on Theydon Bois war memorial.

HUMMERSTON

Alfred

(3136)
Private 2nd Bn., Wiltshire Regiment Died 12th March 1915 Age
31 Commemorated LE TOURET MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born
in Epping, he enlisted into the Army at Stratford on 6th August
1914, just 2 days after war was declared. He sailed for France
on 9th November, and was killed in action on 12th March 1915.
His brother Jack was wounded the following month. The family
lived in Epping High Street.

HUMMERSTON

Henry
L

(3328)
Serjeant 2nd Bn., Middlesex Regiment Died 26th April 1918 Commemorated
ADELAIDE CEMETERY, VILLERS-BRETONNEUX, SOMME, FRANCE. Born in
Epping, he was a member of the Epping Weslayan Church. He enlisted
into the Army at Warley and was killed in action in France in
1918. His Battalion suffered heavy casualties during this action,
amounting to 13 officers and 539 other ranks.

JENKINS

Harold
G.

(G/79198)
Private 9th Bn., Royal Fusiliers Died 12th November 1918 Age
18 Commemorated ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE
Son of George and Matilda Jenkins, of Epping. He unfortunately
died of pneumonia the day after the Armistice has been signed

JERVIS

George
H.

(31021)
Private 9th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 8th April 1918 age 19 Commemorated
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Son of James
and Alice Mary Jervis, of Shelley House, Ongar, late of St John’s
Road, Epping. He was a member of Epping Rifle Club. Served on
the Western Front where he died of wounds received in action
in 1918.

JUNIPER

Arthur

(3600)
Trooper Guards Machine Gun Regiment Died 8th October 1918 Commemorated
BRONFAY FARM MILITARY CEMETERY, BRAY-SUR-SOMME, FRANCE Born
in Epping and lived there. A member of the Epping Wesleyan Church,
he enlisted into the Army at St Pancras. He served initially
with the 1st Life Guards and travelled to France with them on
15th August 1914. He later transferred to the Guards Machine
Gun Regiment. He died of wounds in October 1918. His brother
Ernest and sister Emily were also lost in the War.

JUNIPER

Ernest

(S/21624)
Rifleman 11th Bn., Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own)
Died 1st April 1918 Age 35 Commemorated HAM BRITISH CEMETERY,
MULLE-VILLETTE, SOMME, FRANCE Son of John Wesley Juniper and
Mary Emma Juniper. His father was the manager of Cottis’ Ironmongers,
and his mother owned a wool shop in Epping High Street, where
they lived. He married Harriet in 1905 and lived in Shepherds
Bush, London. He was a fully qualified chemist with Harrods.
He enlisted in London and died of wounds in April 1918, leaving
a 6 year old daughter, named Winnie. His brother Arthur died
six months later. His sister Emily enlisted as a nurse and died
of illness on board a ship.

KENT

Arthur
J.

(254146)
Gunner “A” Battery, 93rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Died
2nd September 1918 Commemorated GOMIECOURT SOUTH CEMETERY, PAS
DE CALAIS, FRANCE Husband of E E Kent, of 7 Lindsey Street,
Epping. Enlisted into the Royal Artillery and was killed in
action while serving on the Western Front in 1918.

KINNELL

Guy
R.

Brevet
Major 4th Bn., West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales Own)
Died 9th December 1919 Age 27 Commemorated MELCOMBE REGIS CEMETERY,
DORSET. Born in Epping on 14th November 1892. His father, who
for some years had been manager of Cottis ironmongers, died
when Guy was two years old. Mother Emily moved to Church Hill
and became a teacher in the Parish Church Sunday school. He
was educated first at Epping School and later at St Albans School,
St Albans, Hertfordshire, which he entered in 1907. He played
football and rugby for the school as well as captaining the
cricket team. He was a member of the school’s Officer Training
Corps from 1908 until the time he left in 1912 and went to Oxford.
In January 1914 he took a commission in the Special Reserve,
and on the outbreak of war he was with his Regiment, the 4th
West Yorks, at Richmond. He joined the 2nd Battalion of the
Regiment on the Western Front on 12th February 1915. On the
13th March he was seriously wounded in action at the Battle
of Neuve Chapelle, and on 15th April his leg was amputated.
After several months in hospital he rejoined his Regiment. He
went to serve as a Staff Officer and as an Embarkation Officer,
being promoted to Captain on 22nd August 1916. For his excellent
work in the repatriation of POW’s he was given the rank of Brevet
Major in the King’s Birthday Honours list in June 1919. He was
honoured with three foreign decorations, the Chevalier of the
Legion of Honour of France, Chevalier of the Order of the Crown
of Belgium, and the Order of the White Eagle (Serbia). In August
1919 he went to Weymouth as the Station Accountant. He was married
at Princess Christian’s Hospital in November of the same year.
On 9th December, in the same hospital, he finally succumbed
to the lingering effects of his wounds and died of heart failure.
He was buried with full military honours in Melcombe Regis Cemetery
on 13th December 1919. His younger brother Paul was also killed
during the war. The name and details of Guy’s death are on his
father’s gravestone in All Saints Churchyard at Epping Upland.

KINNELL

Paul

(301045)
Rifleman 1st/5th Bn., London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)
Died 1st July 1916 Age 22 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME,
FRANCE Younger brother of Guy, Paul Kinnell travelled to France
with the London Regiment on 2nd September 1915. On July 1st
the following year his Regiment was one of the many taking part
in the disastrous first day of the Battle of the Somme. The
London Division launched an attack on Gommiecourt at 7.20am.
The first two lines of German trenches were taken with comparatively
few casualties, and the third after a fierce fight. The London
Regiments were then cut off as the Germans began to shell them
and spray the area with machine gun fire. All attempts to reinforce
them failed, and they eventually had to withdraw. Paul Kinnell
was at first reported missing. In April 1917 the Army Council
informed his family that he had in fact been killed.

LADHAM

Archibald
F

(2100144)
Private 4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 27th March 1917 Age 20
Commemorated JERUSALEM MEMORIAL, ISRAEL Born in Chelmsford,
the son of Mr and Mrs Ladham, of High Street, Epping. He was
a member of the 1st Epping Scout Troop before the war. He enlisted
into the 4th Battalion of the Essex Regiment in Epping and served
with them in Palestine. He was killed in action in March 1917.

LATTER

George
W. W.

Second
Lieutenant 3rd Bn., Rifle Brigade Died 11th July 1916 Age 20
Commemorated POND FARM CEMETERY, HEUVELLAND, WEST-VLAANDEREN,
BELGIUM Originally from Chichester in Sussex, George Latter
worked as a clerk at the Epping branch of Barclays Bank from
November 1913 until November 1914 when he enlisted into the
London Regiment. He was described as “tremendously keen” on
military life and on 3rd October 1915 he was commissioned into
the Rifle Brigade. In a report of his death the West Essex Gazette
said that he was much liked by all who came in contact with
him. It also said that he had been so successful in his Army
service that it was most likely that he would have adopted a
military career had he survived. His parents received the following
letter from a comrade, 2nd Lieutenant C J Chamberlain: “As an
intimate friend of your son, and one who has served with him
for more than a year, I feel it is my duty to write to tell
you that he was most unfortunately killed on the night of July
10th. Both of us were former members of the LRB, and we first
met when the Battalion was doing work on lines of communication
last summer. First at Aire and later at St Omer we were together,
and I think it is due to the fact that he wished to be among
friends that induced him to apply for a commission in the Rifle
Brigade. A few days ago it was decided to carry out a raid on
the German trenches on our front. Volunteers were called for,
and a list of names more than three times the number required
was sent in. Your son expressed a keen desire to be one of the
party, and eventually, when the scheme had been prepared, was
put in command of one of the bombing squads, whose duty it was
to enter the enemy’s trench, clear it of Germans, and hold the
ground until a search party had secured necessary identification.
The actual operation was entirely successful, and your son,
one of the first to enter the trench with his party, worked
his way along the trench in accordance with the scheme. Alone,
he entered one of the dug-outs in the trench and secured important
documents which were safely brought back, and when the order
to return was passed along he worked his way clear with his
party, regaining our trenches without loss. At this stage some
difficulty arose because it was not known whether one of the
party which should have returned earlier was back or not. Your
son immediately volunteered to go out in front and render assistance,
but was prevailed upon to remain until a messenger went down
the trench to find if the missing party had re-entered at another
point. It was then that a trench mortar bomb landed quite close
to the parade, killing your son almost instantaneously. A stretcher-bearer
was standing beside him at the time, and in spite of his immediate
assistance he quickly realised that the help he could render
was unavailing. All the members of the party, as well as all
the officers and men of the Battalion, were much upset when
they heard that your son had been a victim to such an unlucky
accident, but the memory of his recent achievement, his coolness
and courageous display, must comfort you as it does us. You
part is to suffer the loss bravely, while it is ours to pay
the sacrifice if called upon. Bear in mind that your son died
bravely while calmly waiting to go forward and help his comrades.
When quietness was restored he was brought by stretcher-bearers
to a small village some distance behind the lines, where he
was buried yesterday by the Regimental Chaplain. Rest assured
that everything was done for him, and that his name and fame
will ever be remembered”.

LAW

Ernest

Private
10th Bn., York and Lancaster Regiment Died 3rd July 1916 Age
19 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Coopersale,
the son of Mrs Mary Ann Law, of New Cottages, Ivy Chimneys,
he enlisted in Stratford into the Lincolnshire Regiment. He
transferred into the York and Lancs and saw service in France
and Belgium. He was killed in action in July 1916, the third
day of the Battle of The Somme.

LEWSEY

Harold

Private
3rd Kite Balloon Section, Royal Air Force Died 28th October
1918 Commemorated ETRETAT CHURCHYARD EXTENSION CEMETERY, ETRETAT,
FRANCE A Kite Balloon was large cylindrical gas-filled bag with
a rope attached. Along this rope were attached a series of umbrella
shaped wind catchers, which resembled the tail on a child’s
kite, hence the name Kite Balloon. They were used behind the
lines for observation purposes.

LOVE

Alfred
J.

(S/9920)
Rifleman 9th Bn., Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consorts Own) Died
28th February 1918 Commemorated BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY,
SURREY Born in Epping, he enlisted at Warley. Died of wounds
in the UK.

LOVE

Ernest
A.

(16047)
Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment. illed in action at the Battle
of Krithia Vineyard on 6th August 1915 Age 20 Commemorated HELLES
MEMORIAL, TURKEY Son of William and Lizzie Love, of 2 Bridge
Hill, Ivy Chimneys, Epping. He was killed on the same day as
two other Epping men from the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment,
Edward Fowler and Jesse Freshwater.

MAYNARD

Thomas

Second
Engineer Steam Trawler “Nelson”, Mercantile Marine Died 5th
September 1914 Commemorated TOWER HILL MEMORIAL Born in Epping.
He was reported missing presumed drowned in September 1914,
Epping’s first fatality of the War.

MEAD

Herbert

Private
2nd Bn., Royal Fusiliers Died 28th February 1917 Commemorated
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Born in High Easter, and was
living there when war was declared. He enlisted into the Army
at Epping.

MILLER

Hugh
M.

(927)
Trooper Essex Yeomanry Died 13th May 1915 Age 19 Commemorated
MENIN GATE, YPRES, BELGIUM Hugh Meilke Miller was born in Belleville,
Argentina. Just prior to the war he was living in Epping. At
the age of 17 he joined the Essex Yeomanry at Abbey Farm. He
was preparing to return to Argentina when war was declared,
so on 14th August he opted to rejoin his Regiment and accompany
it to France. He was killed in action on 13th May 1915 during
the Second Battle of Ypres. The Essex Yeomanry were a mounted
Regiment, but on this day took part in the 8th Cavalry Brigade’s
attempt to re-occupy previously lost front line trenches at
Frezenberg Ridge without their horses. They lost 161 of their
number in this action. Trooper Miller was originally reported
as wounded in an account of the day’s action on the front page
of the West Essex Gazette on 22nd May 1915. Other Epping men
also took part in this action. Trooper J Church described the
scene as “awful”. Harry Pegrum was wounded, and George Pegrum
was left behind the lines to look after the horses. Hugh Miller
is also commemorated on the war memorial in Theydon Mount Church.
Members of the Epping & District Branch of the Royal British
Legion took part in a parade in his memory at the Menin Gate
in July 2004.

NEWMAN

Walter
S.

(60377)
Private 11th Bn., Royal Fusiliers Died 10th February 1917 Commemorated
REGINA TRENCH CEMETERY, GRANDCOURT, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Epping,
he enlisted into the Army at Brentwood and served initially
with the Essex Regiment. He transferred into the Royal Fusiliers
and was killed in action on the Western Front.

OAKLEY

Frank
H.

(200592)
Private 4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 26th March 1917 Age 25
Commemorated JERUSALEM MEMORIAL, ISRAEL Son of William and Emily
Oakley, of Holly Cottage, St John’s Road, Epping. He was a member
of Epping Rifle Club and enlisted into the Essex Regiment at
Brentwood. He was reported as being wounded in Palestine in
March 1917. Four months later it was reported that he had in
fact been missing since March. He was never found and is commemorated
on the Jerusalem Memorial.

PATTEN

Edward
J.

(12/900)
Lance Corporal 12th Bn., Durham Light Infantry Died 24th September
1918 Age 24 Commemorated DEMNANCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION,
FRANCE Born in Cambridge, he died of wounds on the Western Front.

PERT

John
P.

(32458)
Private 11th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 22nd April 1917 Age 33
Commemorated LOOS MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Clewer
near Windsor. He was married to Frances and lived at 4 St John’s
Road, Epping. He enlisted at Waltham Abbey and was killed in
action on the Western Front.

PLUMB

Cecil
P.

(31020)
Private 10th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 22nd October 1917 Age
19 Commemorated TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM Son of
Arthur and Annie Plumb, of 6 Gordon’s Cottages, St John’s Road,
Epping. On this day, during the third Battle of Ypres, the 10th
Essex supported the 8th Norfolks in their attempts to gain a
number of objectives. The Essex took Nobles Farm, and then pushed
on to Meunier House, which was also taken. After a short artillery
barrage, they occupied Tracas Farm. Cecil Plumb was killed in
action.

PLUMB

Harry
C.

(41379)
Private 2nd Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment Died 21st June 1918 Age
19 Commemorated WARLOY-BAILLON CEMETERY EXTENSION, SOMME, FRANCE
Son of William and Agnes Plumb, he was living in Lindsey Street
at the outbreak of war. He enlisted into the Army at Warley
and was killed in action on the Western Front.

POMPHRETT

L.
J.

(A/367466)
Private Royal Army Service Corps (Canteens) Died 30th January
1919 Commemorated STE. MARIE CEMETERY, LE HAVRE, FRANCE Lived
in St John’s Road. He had served in the canteens of the British
Expeditionary Force.

PORTER

William

(11119)
Private 2nd Bn. Middlesex Regiment Died 18th August 1917 Age
26 Commemorated BRANDHOEK NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, VLAMERTINGHE,
BELGIUM Born in Epping, the second son of George Lawrence and
Annie Elizabeth Porter of St John’s Road, Epping. He worked
for Wm Cottis & Sons before enlisting into the Army at Stratford
in 1914. In August 1917 he was admitted to a base hospital after
receiving serious shell wounds in the abdomen and the right
elbow. He was immediately operated on, and told a nurse to write
home for him saying that all was going well and he would soon
be back in “Blighty”. He did not recover from his wounds, however,
and died on the morning of 18th August. He had two brothers
in the Army; Bert, in France with the Middlesex Regiment, and
Chas, in the Dardenelles with the Essex Regiment.

POULTON

Arthur
C.

(55579)
Private 198th Coy., Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) Died 20th September
1917 Age 22 Commemorated TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM
Son of Mildred Poulton, of 1 Lennon’s Cottages, Epping. He was
born in Epping and enlisted there, originally joining the Royal
Fusiliers before transferring into the Machine Gun Corps. He
was killed in action during the Third Battle of Ypres.

POULTON

David
C.

(200351)
Private 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 4th November 1917 Age
20 Commemorated GAZA WAR CEMETERY, ISRAEL Born in Theydon Garnon,
the son of Mr & Mrs D C Poulton of High Street, Epping. He enlisted
into the Essex Regiment in Epping and was in camp with them
when war broke out. He went to Egypt with his Regiment and died
of wounds received in Palestine.

PRETLOVE

Sidney
H.

(32423)
Private 11th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 31st August 1917 Age 20
Commemorated MAROC BRITISH CEMETERY, NORD, FRANCE Son of Charles
and Emily Pretlove, of Coopersale Common, he was born in Parndon.
Sydney was called up in 1916, and his father attended a tribunal
to appeal for the exemption of his son from service as he was
the main support of the family’s greengrocery business. The
application was refused and he went to the Western Front with
the Essex Regiment. He was killed in action in France in August
1917. He is also commemorated on the war memorial at St Albans
Church in Coopersale.

RANDALL

Robert
G.

(S/30801)
Rifleman 6th Bn., Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) Died
22nd February 1917 Commemorated FORT PITT MILITARY CEMETERY,
KENT Born in Epping and lived there. Enlisted in Stratford.
Died in the U.K.

RATCLIFFE

E.

(18944)
Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment Died 2nd September 1916 Age
18 Commemorated VLAMERTINGTHE MILITARY CEMETERY, BELGIUM Son
of George and Mary Ratcliffe, of 3 Ivy Chimneys, Epping. He
was born in Bishops Stortford and enlisted in Warley. Killed
in action in Belgium.

REES

Andrew
M.

Lieutenant
9th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 18th October 1916 Age21 Commemorated
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Andrew Montgomery Rees was
born on 19th June 1895, the son of the Revd Robert Montgomery
Rees, M. A., and Catherine Rees, of Latchmore, Hartland Road.
He was educated at Leys School in Cambridge from 1910 to 1914
and left with a Mathematical Exhibition to study at Sidney Sussex
College, Cambridge. Initially his poor eyesight led to his rejection
for military service, but he was eventually accepted as an instructor,
and later sent to fight in France. He was originally reported
missing but it is now assumed that he was killed in action.
He was a member of the Epping Wesleyan Church.

ROGERS

Walter

Serjeant
10th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 22nd October 1917 Commemorated
TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM Born in Epping, he enlisted
into the Army at Kingston-upon-Thames. Killed in action along
with Cecil Plumb during the third Battle of Ypres in October
1917. Also commemorated on Theydon Bois war memorial.

ROWLAND

Ernest
J.

(13206)
Private 8th Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment Died 26th September 1915
Commemorated LOOS MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Ernest Rowland
was born in Epping. He enlisted in Stratford and was killed
in action during the Battle of Loos in September 1915.

SAMPSON

Alfred
Walter

Lance
Corporal 2nd Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment Died 23rd October 1918
Commemorated HIGHLAND CEMETERY, LE CATEAU, FRANCE Alfred Sampson
was born in Epping and lived in the Town. He enlisted into the
Bedfordshire Regiment in Epping, and was killed in action on
the Western Front.

SAMPSON

Harry
A.

(35334)
Lance Corporal 2nd Bn., Essex Regiment Died 17th April 1917
Commemorated ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE
Born in Epping, he was the son of Arthur and Rebecca Sampson
of Chapel Road.. Enlisted in West Ham. He married Ada Sophia
Neville on Saturday1st May 1915, returning to his Regiment just
three days layer. He was killed in action on the Western Front.

SAUNDERS

Ernest
M.

Second
Lieutenant 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 4th December 1917
Age 36 Commemorated KANTARA WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, EGYPT Husband
of Mary A. Saunders, of 7 Bower Vale, Epping. Died of wounds
while serving in Palestine. He is also commemorated in St Peters
Church, Shelley.

SAVILL

Charles
W.

(469940)
Private 685th Home Service Employment Company, Labour Corps
Died 1st May 1919 Commemorated EPPING CEMETERY Son of Walter
George and Mary Ann Savill of Epping. Died of phthisis. Buried
in a Commonwealth War Grave in Epping Cemetery.

SAVILLE

Alfred
W.

(8495)
Private 2nd Bn., Royal Berkshire Regiment Died 15th March 1915
Commemorated GUARDS CEMETERY, WINDY CORNER, CUINCHY, FRANCE
Son of Mr W Saville, of Bell Common, Epping. Born in Battersea
and enlisted in Warley, he was killed in action on the Western
Front while serving with the Royal Berkshire Regiment in March
1915.

SHELLEY

Harry
L.

(27311)
Private 8th Bn., Norfolk Regiment Died 24th October 1917 Commemorated
MENDINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY, POPERINGE, BELGIUM Born in Southend-on-Sea,
he later moved to Epping where he enlisted into the Army. Died
of wounds during the third Battle of Ypres in October 1917.

SHOAT

Albert
E

(63685)
Private “D” Coy., 6th Bn., The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
Died 24th August 1918 Age 19 Commemorated MEAULTE MILITARY CEMETERY,
FRANCE Born in Coopersale, the son of George William Shoat of
Epping. Enlisted in Epping and lived there. Killed in action
on the Western Front.

SIMMONS

Colin

(13966)
Private 5th Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Died 17th August
1915 Commemorated EAST MUDROS MILITARY CEMETERY, LEMNOS, GREECE
Born in Epping, the son of Mr W J Simmons of Chapel Road, he
enlisted in the Town. He initially joined the Duke of Cornwall’s
Light Infantry and later transferred to the Royal Inniskilling
Fusiliers. He landed in Gallipoli with the Machine Gun Section
of the 5th Battalion on 7th August 1915. He was severely wounded
and died on 17th August. His death was reported in a Casualty
List published in the West Essex Gazette on 11th September.

STEVENS

William
J.

(L/15815)
Private 4th Bn., Royal Fusiliers Died 26th October 1914 Commemorated
LE TOURET MEMORIAL, PAS DE CALAIS, FRANCE Born in Epping, the
son of Mr & Mrs J A Stevens of Sunnyside Road. He joined the
Army as a regular in October 1913. He went to the Western Front
in the early days of the War and was killed in action during
the Battle of the Aisne in 1914.

STOCK

John
E.

(G/13292)
Private 6th Bn., The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) Died
12th May 1917 Age 26 Commemorated ARRAS MEMORIAL, FRANCE Born
in Epping, the son of Frederick Charles and Sarah Ann Stock,
of Lindsey Street. Enlisted in Epping. Killed in action on the
Western Front.

STRANGE

A.
J.

Private
2nd Bn., Essex Regiment Died 8th October 1917 Age 39 Commemorated
TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM Born in Epping, the Son
of Charles and Mary Jane Strange, of 6 St John’s Road. He enlisted
in Epping and was killed in action serving with the Essex Regiment
in the Ypres Salient in 1917.

STRANGE

William
J.

(106717)
Private 106th Coy., Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) Died 22nd October
1917 Age 19 Commemorated TYNE COT MEMORIAL, ZONNEBEKE, BELGIUM
Born in Epping, the son of George John and Ellen Wright, of
4 Twankhams Alley. Killed in action during Third Ypres.

TREDGETT

Arthur

(33381)
Private 13th Bn., East Lancashire Regiment Died 22nd August
1918 Age 32 Commemorated PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL, BELGIUM Son of
Mrs M A Tredgett, of Lindsey Street, Epping. He enlisted into
the Army in Epping, originally joining the Royal West Surrey
Regiment. He was later transferred to the East Lancs and was
killed in action on the Western Front.

TREDGETT

George

(19140)
Private 11th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 19th August 1916 Commemorated
HAMEL MILITARY CEMETERY, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Epping,, the
son of Mr & Mrs Charles Tredgett of Epping Green, he was killed
in action on the 19th August 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.
His sister, a Mrs Day, received the following letter from Second
Lieutenant H K Harris, his platoon commander: “I feel so for
you in the loss of your brother that I hardly know where to
begin. He was one of the faithful soldiers in my platoon, always
willing to do anything. His loss will be felt by all of us”.

TREDGETT

James
H.

(K22822)
Stoker 1st Class HM Submarine “K4”, Royal Navy Died 31st January
1918 Commemorated CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, KENT Brother of William
Tredgett, who was also killed. Just before the outbreak of war
he had married and settled in Sheerness. He was killed in an
accident involving a number of K Class submarines during an
exercise in Scotland. A letter confirming his death was sent
to his mother in Hemnall Street by the Accountant General of
the Navy on 20th May 1919. The letter says “I have to state
for your further information that on the night of January 31st
1918, just after having left her base in the Firth of Forth,
whence she was proceeding for service in the North Sea with
the Grand Fleet, HM Submarine “K4“, in which your son was serving,
collided with another K Class submarine and sank almost instantaneously
with all on board. The exposed position of the wreck combined
with the depth of water unfortunately precluded the possibility
of recovering the bodies of her crew”. In January 2002 a memorial
cairn was erected in Anstruther harbour in memory of those who
lost their lives in this incident, which became known as the
Battle of May Island.

TREDGETT

William

(J/46435)
Ordinary Seaman HMS “Laforey”, Royal Navy Died 23Rd March 1917
Age 20 Commemorated CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, KENT Son of Mrs
Payne (formerly Tredgett), of 2 Hemnall Street, Epping. HMS
Laforey struck a mine in the Straits of Dover. The mines had
actually been laid by the Royal Navy. Brother of James, who
was killed in 1918.

TROTTER

Lionel

(1000868)
Private 16th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) Died
8th November 1917 Commemorated MENIN GATE, YPRES, BELGIUM Son
of Raymond Douglas Trotter (Solicitor) and Emily Marston Trotter,
of Epping. Also commemorated on page 340 of the Veterans Affairs
Canada Book of Remembrance, and on the war memorial at St Albans
Church, Coopersale.

TURNER

Walter
J.

(179514)
Gunner B Battery, 71st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Died 31st
July 1917 Commemorated NEW IRISH FARM CEMETERY, YPRES, BELGIUM
Lived in Epping and enlisted there. Killed in action on 31st
July 1917. A wreath was laid on his grave in New Irish Farm
Cemetery by members of the Epping & District Branch of the Royal
British Legion in July 2004.

WHITING

Percy
M.

(471630)
Rifleman 1st/12th Bn., London Regiment (The Rangers) Died 1st
July 1916 Age 28 Commemorated THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE
Husband of Winifred Daisy Whiting, of High Street, Epping. His
Battalion was involved in the same action as Rifleman Paul Kinnell
on the first day of The Somme.

WIDOCKS

Herbert
E.

Chief
Steward Mercantile Marine Reserve Died 17th July 1917 Age 28
Commemorated PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, DEVON Eldest Son of Mr
D Widocks, of St John’s Road, Epping, Herbert worked for the
Continental Service of the Great Eastern Railway before volunteering
for was service in the Mercantile Marine. He was 28 years old
and married. He was drowned when the vessel on which he was
serving, the Minesweeper HMS Newmarket, was sunk in an action
with the German submarine UC38 in the Eastern Mediterranean
Sea. The UC38 was herself sunk five months later by French destroyers
in the Ionian Sea.

WINGFIELD

George
E.

(16564)
Private 11th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 21st August 1916 Age 28
Commemorated HAMEL MILITARY CEMETERY, SOMME, FRANCE Born in
Copt Hall Green, the son of James and Annie Wingfield. He later
moved to Epping, working on the Copped Hall Estate. He was married
to of Ida Emily Wingfield, of Lindsey Street. He enlisted in
Warley and was killed in action in August 1916.

WOOD

Horace
L.

(10222)
Private 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers Died 12th March 1918 Commemorated
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Epping and enlisted
at Stratford. Also commemorated on the war memorial at St Albans
Church in Coopersale.

WOOD

George
J.

(Y/1041)
Rifleman 12th Bn., Kings Royal Rifle Corps Died 2nd April 1918
Commemorated POZIERES MEMORIAL, SOMME, FRANCE Born in Epping
and enlisted in London. Killed in action. Also commemorated
on the war memorial at St Albans Church in Coopersale

WRIGHT

John

Sergeant
2nd/4th Bn., Gloucestershire Regiment Died 3rd December 1917
Age 21 Commemorated CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, FRANCE Born in Chigwell,
the son of Albert and Harriet Wright, and later moved to 1 Champness
Cottage, St John’s Road, Epping. He was killed in action on
the Western Front on 3rd December 1917.

(7952843)
Trooper 1st East Riding Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps Died
28th June 1944 Age 21 Commemorated BAYEUX MEMORIAL, CALVADOS,
FRANCE Son of Sidney Philip & Mary Armstrong, of 187 High Street,
Epping. He enlisted in 1942, and was killed in Normandy in 1944.
His death was reported in the West Essex Gazette on 22nd July
1944. The East Riding Yeomanry operated Sherman tanks, and landed
in Normandy on D-Day. Eric’s father Philip worked for the Essex
War Agricultural Committee in Epping.

BETTIS

Leonard
E.

(900253)
Sergeant 59 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died
28th August 1940 Age 20 Commemorated EPPING CEMETERY Originally
lived at Theydon Mount. His mother died when he was 4 years
old. In 1935 he and his sister Mary went to live with his aunt
and uncle, Mr & Mrs G Perry, in St John’s Road, Epping. He worked
as a carpenter for Mr B Cable before joining the RAF in July
1939. He was killed on 28th August 1940 when his Bristol Blenheim
bomber crashed in fog in England after a raid on occupied France.
He had celebrated his 20th birthday the day before his death.
The funeral was held at St John’s Church on Tuesday 3rd September.
The service was conducted during an air-raid warning.

CLARK

Horace.
C.

Private
2nd Bn., Ox & Bucks, 6th Airlanding Bde. (Gliders), 6th Airborne
Died 24th March 1945 Age 22 Commemorated REICHSWALD FOREST,
GERMANY Son of Mr & Mrs C Clark of 10 Coopersale Common, he
was killed in a glider crash during Operation Varsity, the crossing
of the River Rhine in Germany. He had been in the Army for three
years. He took part in the D-Day landings, and later returned
to England for further training. A short time before his death
he spent a week on leave in Coopersale. He had been educated
at St John’s School, Epping, and was employed at Cottis’ Foundry.
He was married in 1942, and prior to joining the Army he was
a member of the Home Guard in Epping. He had a brother, Percy,
in the East Surrey Regiment, and a sister, Iris, in the Women’s
Transport Service. Horace Clark’s name is mistakenly spelled
with an ‘e’ o Epping War Memorial.

COKER

Cyril
M.

(194080)
Captain Royal Corps of Signals, attd. 77th Indian Bde Signal
Section Died 6th September 1943 Age 28 Commemorated KIRKEE WAR
CEMETERY, INDIA

DAVIDSON

Arthur
J.

(959179)
Gunner 3 Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery Died 10th July 1942
Commemorated EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY, EGYPT Son of Frederick
& Eliza Davidson, of Beulah Road, Epping . A former pupil of
Epping Senior School, he was killed in action in the Middle
East in July 1942. A report of his death appeared in the West
Essex Gazette on August 1st of that year.

DOGGETT

Charles
W.

(42207)
Flying Officer Royal Air Force Died 17th January 1941 Age 28
Commemorated EPPING CEMETERY Son of Frank Hewitt Doggett and
Charlotte Doggett, of the Rosary, Station Road, Epping; husband
of Winifred Jane Doggett. He joined the RAF in 1939, and was
killed on a training flight in 1941. His aircraft, a Whitley
V Bomber (number N1494), crashed at Abingdon in Oxfordshire
after an engine iced up during a snow storm. The Wireless Operator
and Trainee Air Gunner managed to parachute to safety. His funeral
was held at the Roman Cathololic Church in Epping, conducted
by Father Burgess. F/O Doggett’s death was reported in the West
Essex Gazette on 25th January 1941.

FLACK

Reginald
F.

(1304494)
Private Pioneer Corps Died 3rd October 1943 Age 30 Commemorated
SALERNO WAR CEMETERY, ITALY Son of William & Alice Flack, he
was born on 3rd December 1912 at 34 Chapel Road, Epping. He
worked as a gardener for the Dudley Ward family in Theydon Bois.
His hobbies included fishing and cricket. He died of Malaria
in a Prisoner of War camp at Salerno, Italy in 1943. His death
was reported in the West Essex Gazette on 23rd October of that
year. He was the second oldest of four brothers, one of whom
was captured in 1940 but managed to escape two years later.
He was awarded the Africa Star, the Italy Star and the 1939-45
Star.

GLADWIN

James
A.

(6014729)
Lance Corporal 6th Bn., Lincolnshire Regiment Died 7th December
1944 Age 22 Commemorated FAENZA WAR CEMETERY, ITALY Joined the
Essex Regiment as a Territorial in 1938 and was called up as
soon as war was declared a year later. His Regiment became part
of the 8thArmy in Egypt, suffering so many casualties that the
survivors were attached to the 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment.
They fought their way across North Africa, Sicily and Italy,
reaching the Gothic Line in the winter of 1944. On 7th December
he was killed by a mortar bomb.

HAMMOND

Leslie

(T/107570)
Driver 525 Infantry Brigade Coy., Royal Army Service Corps Died
6th June 1940 Age 22 Commemorated ST VALERY-EN-CAUX CEMETERY,
FRANCE Son of William Charles and Annie Louise Hammond of Epping,
who had s fish shop in the High Street. He was a member of Epping’s
Volunteer Fire Brigade, and was one of three men reported missing
in the West Essex Gazette on 6th July 1940. The others were
Alfred Turner and Ernest Flack. They had been school friends,
joined the Fire Brigade together, and finally joined the RASC
together in October 1939.

JAMES

Harry

(7640081)
Lance Corporal REME and No.6 Commando Died 12th June 1944 Age
26 Commemorated RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY, CALVADOS, FRANCE Son
of Mrs L A James, of 4 Charles Street, Epping. He had been serving
for four years at the time of his death, which was reported
in the West Essex Gazette on 29th July 1944. He was described
as a first-class marksman and was popular in the services as
a singer and impersonator. He had also been a chorister at Epping
Church.

JOHNSON

Henry
W.

(992997)
Gunner 104 (The Essex Yeomanry) Rgt, Royal Horse Artillery.
Died 14th April 1942 Commemorated HELIOPOLIS WAR CEMETERY, EGYPT
Son of Henry William & Henrietta Johnson; husband of Gladys
Johnson, of Coopersale.

JONES

Sydney
Rhys

(65537)
Flying Officer 1660 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAFVR Died 12th February
1943 Commemorated EPPING CEMETERY Son of John Jones; husband
of Patricia Jones of Epping. He was killed when his aircraft,
a Mk1 Lancaster(R5676), broke up during a training flight from
Swinderby in Lincolnshire and crashed at Oldfields Farm, Sturton-by-Stow,
eight miles north-west of Lincoln. All seven crew members perished,
along with a ground staff airman who hade gone up in the aircraft
for a trip. There is a memorial to the crew at the farm, which
has been renamed Lancaster
Farm in their honour.

KEARNS

Maurice
W.

(6031600)
Private 6th (10th Bn., Royal Welch Fusiliers) Bn., Parachute
Regiment. , A.A.C. Died 10th September 1943 Age 20 Commemorated
CASSINO MEMORIAL, ITALY Son of William & Alice Kearns, of Theydon
Place Cottages, Epping. He was reported missing by the War Office
on 9th September 1943. He had married Connie Bevis, of Tottenham,
North London, a year earlier. He had been in the Army for eighteen
months, the last six being spent in North Africa. Connie had
received a letter from him on 4th September, telling her not
o worry if she did not hear from him again for some time. He
told her that he had got through Sicily okay and believed that
his luck would hold out. Prior to joining the Army Pte Kearns
was employed as an assistant tailor W E Cole in Epping High
Street. He was educated at Epping Senior School, winning several
cups for running, and was a very keen footballer.

LADHAM

Kenneth
A.

(876742)
Gunner 1 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Died 3rd March 1941
Age 21 Commemorated KEREN WAR CEMETERY, ERITREA Son of Christopher
and Lucy Alice Ladham, of Lindsey Street, Epping. He was killed
in action in Egypt in 1941. The West Essex Gazette reported
his death on 22nd March. The report described the Ladhams as
“a true Epping family, all doing their bit” – three sons were
in the forces, the father had served in World War 1, the mother
had given blood, and the youngest son was a fire spotter.

LOVE

Joseph
H.

Chief
Engineer Officer SS Tewkesbury, Merchant Navy Died 5th September
1943 Age 57 Commemorated ALL SAINTS CHURCH, THEYDON GARNON Son
of Joseph Thomas Love and Alice Love; husband of Katie Mary
Love, of Epping. On 4th May 1941 SS Tewkesbury loaded a cargo
of beef at Rosario, Argentina. and then proceeded downriver
to Montevideo to pick up the rest of her cargo. She was scheduled
to return to the UK via Freetown and Oban, but received a wireless
message to proceed to St Vincent in the Cape Verde Islands instead.
At 21.45GMT on Tuesday 21st May she was torpedoed by a German
U-Boat. At the time Joseph Love was engaged in conversation
with Captain Pryse on the main deck Both were thrown into the
air as the torpedo struck the starboard side. Joseph landed
heavily and was washed along the deck, struggling to take a
hold on anything to prevent himself from being washed overboard.
The order to was given to abandon ship and two boats were lowered,
each holding 21 occupants. Both were eventually picked up by
American ships, and all but two of the men were back in the
UK by the end of July. Joseph Love never returned to sea, and
died from his injuries two years later.

McCORMACK

John
B.

(50661)
Pilot Officer 102 Squadron Royal Air Force Died 10th September
1942 Age 23 Commemorated RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, SURREY Died when
his aircraft, a Handley Page Halifax (W7752), crashed in the
North Sea after taking off from Pocklington for a raid on Dusseldorf.
Six bodies were recovered. John McCormack was never found and
is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

MOSS

Harry
A.

(6010474)
Private 4th Bn., Suffolk Regiment Died 6th July 1943 Age 26
Commemorated KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY, THAILAND Son of Amy
Moss, of Epping. The 4th Suffolks surrendered to the Japanese
on the outskirts of Singapore in February 1942. After some time
at Changi Prison they were transported to Thailand. Most were
forced to work on the Japanese railway, with inadequate food
and medical treatment. Many by contracting diseases such as
Malaria, beri-beri and dysentery.

PERRY

Herbert
J.

(6848621)
Lance Sergeant 1st Bn., The London Rifle Brigade Died 25th September
1944 Age 27 Commemorated FLORENCE WAR CEMETERY, ITALY The son
of Thomas William & Jessie Perry, he was known to his friends
as Bert. He lost his life when he stepped on a shoe mine while
leading a patrol on the night of 25th September 1944. His family
received letters from two of his officers stating how he thought
of his men to the last. He was a fine all round cricketer, and
was member of Coopersale Cricket Club. He also played darts,
tennis and badminton for the Coopersale Institute. His death
was reported on the front page of the Loughton, Chigwell, Buckhurst
Hill and Woodford Gazette on 28th October 1944.

RICHARDSON

A.
J.

(910760)
Warrant Officer 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, RAFVR Died 25th June
1944 Age 22 Commemorated BELLENCOMBRE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, SEINE-MARITIME,
FRANCE Son of Arthur & Sarah Ethel Richardson, of Epping. He
was the Wireless Operator on Lancaster Mk1 ME628 (Code KM-V)
which took off from Dunholme Lodge, Lincolnshire, at 22.35 on
24th June 1944. His Squadron’s target was the V1 Flying Bomb
site at Pommerval in France. The Lancaster crashed at Bellencombre,
a village 30km from Dieppe. He was buried in the local cemetery
there along with two other members of his crew.

RUMSBY

John
N.

(1586158)
Flight Sergeant Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died 11th
September 1944 Age 27 Commemorated RUNNYMEADE MEMORIAL, SURREY
Born on Christmas Day 1916, he was the Ward of Mr FH Taylor,
of Epping. After spending some time working as a gardener, he
joined the Essex Constabulary in June 1937 as Police Constable
No. 703. He left the Force on 5th April 1942, and joined the
RAF the following day. He was reported missing presumed killed
on 11th September 1944. he is also commemorated on a memorial
at the Essex Police Headquarters in Chelmsford.

SANDERS

E.
L.

(P/KX
663925) Stoker 2nd Class HMS Wrestler, Royal Navy Died 6th June
1944 Commemorated PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, HAMPSHIRE Son of
Ernest James & Ethel Mat Sanders of Coopersale. The destroyer
HMS Wrestler, originally commissioned in 1918, hit a German
mine off Juno Beach on D-Day. She was damaged beyond repair
and scrapped.

SAPSFORD

Charles
G.

(2046335)
Private 310 Bty., 74 Searchlight Regiment. , Royal Artillery
Died 19th January 1941 Age 21 Commemorated CLACTON CEMETERY
Killed during an air raid while on a training exercise in Clacton.
Just two weeks prior to his death he had been home on leave.
310 Battery was based at the Armoury in Hemnall Street, Epping.
Charles Sapsford’s death was reported in the West Essex Gazette
on 11th February 1941.

SHARP

George
L.

(6024734)
Private 1st Bn., Essex Regiment Died 29th November 1941 Age
26 Commemorated KNIGHTSBRIDGE CEMETERY, ACROMA, LIBYA Son of
Harry & E Sharp of Epping, he was killed serving with the Essex
Regiment at El-Duda in Libya. His name is spelled incorrectly
as Sharpe on Epping War Memorial

SMITH

Frederick

(6014578)
Private 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 29th June 1942 Age
22 Commemorated EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY, EGYPT Another former
pupil of Epping School, Fred Smith was one of five sons of Mr
& Mrs K Smith of Bridge Hill, Epping. He worked at British Matthews
before joining the Army. He was killed in action in the first
battle of El Alamein.

SMITH

Frank
E. L.

(6014812)
Corporal 1st/4th Bn., Essex Regiment Died 17th February 1943
Age 23 Commemorated BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY, LIBYA Son of Leonard
and Jeanette Smith, of Epping.

STREET

Walter

(T/275397)
Driver 53 Infantry Brigade Group Coy., RASC Died 2nd July 1943
Commemorated KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY, THAILAND Son of Mr &
Mrs Street of 64 Ivy Chimneys, Epping. In August 1943 his parents
were officially informed that he was a prisoner of war in the
hands of the Japanese. His wife had also received a postcard
from him to this effect. It was the first time she had heard
from him in eighteen months. Unfortunately by the time this
news was received, Walter Street had been dead for over a month.

TREDGETT

H.
J.

(LT/KX
150237) Engineman HM Motor Minesweeper 8, Royal Naval Patrol
Service Died 24th June 1944 Age 20 Commemorated TILLY-SUR-SEULLES
WAR CEMETERY, CALVADOS, FRANCE Son of Mrs W Tredgett, of James
Street, Epping. Born in Epping, he had worked at Dennings before
joining the Navy. His Mother was notified of his death just
two days before his twenty-first birthday.

TURNER

Alfred
W.

(T/118101)
Driver 51 Div Ammunition Company, RASC Died 11th June 1940 Age
23 Commemorated ST VALERY-EN-CAUX CEMETERY, SEINE-MARITIME,
FRANCE Son of William and Frances Turner, of Bury Road, Epping.
He enlisted into the Royal Army Service Corps in October 1939
with best friends Les Hammond and Ernie Flack. They had been
in the Epping Fire Brigade together, and were known as the “Three
Musketeers”. Alf and Les were killed by a shell after the retreat
to Dunkirk. Ernie was wounded and captured by the Germans but
later escaped to neutral Spain.

TURNER

J.

Gunner
No further information currently available

TURPIN

Frederic
G.

(7646462)
Craftsman attd. 71st Infantry Bde, REME Died 7th October 1944
Age 31 Commemorated VALKENSWAARD WAR CEMETERY, NOORD-BRABANT,
NETHERLANDS Son of Robert Richard and Alice Turpin, of 56 Hemnall
Street, Epping. He was educated at Epping Senior School, and
later worked at WC French in Buckhurst Hill. He was killed in
action in Holland in 1944.His death was reported in the West
Essex Gazette on 21st October.

WARD

Wallace
H.

(876921)
Bombardier 8 res. AA Regiment, Royal Artillery Died 2nd August
1942 Age 22 Commemorated KIRKEE WAR CEMETERY, INDIA Son of Mark
Wallace and Emma Elizabeth Ward, of Epping.

WHIFFIN

David
W.

(158101)
Pilot Officer Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died 22nd February
1944 Age 22 Commemorated OTTAWA MEMORIAL, OTTAWA, CANADA. Son
of Mr & Mrs G W Whiffin, of Brynoak, Coopersale. He was reported
missing in the West Essex Gazette on 4th March 1944.

WRIGHT

Walter
H.

(269964)
Captain Royal Army Service Corps Died 1st January 1945 Age 30
Commemorated BRUNSSUM WAR CEMETERY, LIMBURG, NETHERLANDS Son
of Walter Henry & Edith Jane Wright, of Theydon Bois. He married
Winifred Wilson in 1938, and they lived at 44 Bower Hill, Epping.
He was manager of Brown’s Garage in Loughton. Walter Wright
joined the Army as a Private four days before war was declared.
Evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940, he returned to France soon after
D-Day in charge of RASC workshop units, following the fighting
through France, Belgium and Holland. He was at Arnhem, and was
specially commended by his C.O. for his work there. Winifred
received a field card from her husband together with a photograph
of a Dutch friend. Just one week later she received a telegram
from the War Office telling her that he was dead. Speaking in
the West Essex Gazette, she said “He was due home on leave next
month and I am convinced he will be home”.